Skin Care: Take Proper Precautions

Spas, saloons, body care, skin care; you name and the treatments and advices will pour in. But, don’t follow fads blindly, look before you leap.

• Peels, microdermabrasion, etc are technology based procedures meant for medical or cosmetic problems. Don’t take them casually as feel good treatments. If mishandled by non-professionals, they do more harm than good.

• Facials, massages, scrubs, wraps, etc, have a relaxing effect as they ex-foliate, soothe, hydrate, stimulate and moisturize the skin. But choose a saloon treatment with care. Make sure your saloon is high on hygiene. Get a patch or allergy test done, preferably by a dermatologist, to learn that you’re allergic to and check for that on product label.

• Harsh face scrubs can excoriate. Scrubbing once a week is enough, or twice for very oily skin, and for not more than six to seven seconds. Too much friction can cause the skin to hyper pigment from mechanical trauma. For a bath, avoid pumice stones, harsh brushes or scrubs. A loofah can be used very gently once or twice a week. However, the soles and heels are structured to take pressure and may be cleaned with a foot scraper, brush or pumice stone.

• For manicure or pedicure, find a parlour that uses sterilized equipment and towels, or carry your own kit to avoid fungal infections.

• Before a skin treatment, check that the therapist is expert enough to assess your skin properly and advice accordingly to its skin type, status and climatic conditions.

• Try to talk to your therapist as you would to a doctor, detailing your regular skin care routine and products. For instance, someone using an AHA-based product or anti-wrinkle or anti-acne cream may have to go off it for a few days before a procedure, and resume only as and when advised by the expert. Or else the treatments might he harsher to the skin or cause reaction.

• Sun protection is critical after a peel or polish. Use sunscreen regularly and ask the expert about compatible skin products.